The digital crop survey continues to face hiccups with more than 50 per cent of the agriculture extension officers (AEOs) refusing to take part, citing failure of senior officials to keep their promises. Women AEOs have approached the Telangana Women’s Commission to air their grievances. Some AEOs were suspended for their earlier refusal to take part in the survey.
Following talks with senior officials, the AEOs agreed to take part in the Central government exercise. Despite that, the suspension issue was not resolved. B.
Raju Kumar of the AEO joint action committee, said: “We were promised that our suspensions will be revoked once we start the survey and update the senior officials on the practical problems we face on the field. The discussions took in the presence of principal secretary M. Raghunandan Rao and director of agriculture V.
Gopi on October 23.” “Contrary to assurances (about revoking suspension), they paid 58 AEOs for only 21 days last month. The AEOs should not have been asked to work when under suspension.
Not paying them even after working is wrong,” Kumar said They informed the suspension itself was done without seeking explanation. “Having suspended us for allegedly neglecting death screening for Rythu Bima beneficiaries, how did they revoke suspension for five AEOs? This shows that it was used as a ruse to punish us in the digital crop survey issue. The delay in reaching out to these beneficiaries is not intentional.
Some of the land owners res.
